Cats are often described as carriers of Pasteurella multocida in their oral microbiota. This agent is thought to cause pneumonia, conjunctivitis, rhinitis, gingivostomatitis, abscess and osteonecrosis in cats. Human infection with P. multocida has been described in several cases affecting cat owners or after cat bites. In Brazil, the cat population is approximately 21 million animals and is increasing, but there are no studies of the presence of P. multocida in the feline population or of human cases of infection associated with cats. In this study, one hundred and ninety-one healthy cats from owners and shelters in São Paulo State, Brazil, were evaluated for the presence of P. multocida in their oral cavities. Twenty animals were positive for P. multocida , and forty-one strains were selected and characterized by means of biochemical tests and PCR. The P. multocida strains were tested for capsular type, virulence genes and resistance profile. A total of 75.6% (31/41) of isolates belonged to capsular type A, and 24.4% (10/41) of the isolates were untypeable. None of the strains harboured toxA, tbpA or pfhA genes. The frequencies of the other genes tested were variable, and the data generated were used to build a dendrogram showing the relatedness of strains, which were clustered according to origin. The most common resistance profile observed was against sulfizoxazole and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole.

The size of the west African Ebola virus disease outbreak led to the urgent establishment
of Ebola holding unit facilities for isolation and diagnostic testing of patients
with suspected Ebola virus disease. Following the onset of the outbreak in Sierra
Leone, patients presenting to Connaught Hospital in Freetown were screened for suspected
Ebola virus disease on arrival and, if necessary, were admitted to the on-site Ebola
holding unit. Since demand for beds in this unit greatly exceeded capacity, we aimed
to improve the selection of patients with suspected Ebola virus disease for admission
by identifying presenting clinical characteristics that were predictive of a confirmed
diagnosis.In this retrospective cohort study, we recorded the presenting clinical characteristics
of suspected Ebola virus disease cases admitted to Connaught Hospital's Ebola holding
unit. Patients were subsequently classified as confirmed Ebola virus disease cases
or non-cases according to the result of Ebola virus reverse-transcriptase PCR (EBOV
RT-PCR) testing. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative
predictive value, and likelihood ratio of every clinical characteristic were calculated,
to estimate the diagnostic accuracy and predictive value of each clinical characteristic
for confirmed Ebola virus disease.Between May 29, 2014, and Dec 8, 2014, 850 patients with suspected Ebola virus disease were admitted to the holding unit, of whom 724 had an EBOV RT-PCR result recorded and were included in the analysis. In 464 (64%) of these patients, a diagnosis of Ebola virus disease was confirmed. Fever or history of fever (n=599, 83%), intense fatigue or weakness (n=495, 68%), vomiting or nausea (n=365, 50%), and diarrhoea (n=294, 41%) were the most common presenting symptoms in suspected cases. Presentation with intense fatigue, confusion, conjunctivitis, hiccups, diarrhea, or vomiting was associated with increased likelihood of confirmed Ebola virus disease. Three or more of these symptoms in combination increased the probability of Ebola virus disease by 3·2-fold (95% CI 2·3-4·4), but the sensitivity of this strategy for Ebola virus disease diagnosis was low. In a subgroup analysis, 15 (9%) of 161 confirmed Ebola virus disease cases reported neither a history of fever nor a risk factor for Ebola virus disease exposure.Discrimination of Ebola virus disease cases from patients without the disease is a
major challenge in an outbreak and needs rapid diagnostic testing. Suspected Ebola
virus disease case definitions that rely on history of fever and risk factors for
Ebola virus disease exposure do not have sufficient sensitivity to identify all cases
of the disease.None.

Human adenoviruses (HAdV) are the cause of many acute infections, mostly in the respiratory
and gastrointestinal (GI) tracts, as well as conjunctivitis. HAdV diseases in immunocompetent
individuals are mostly self-limiting; however, in immunocompromised individuals, especially
in pediatric units, HAdV infections are the cause of high morbidity and mortality.
Despite the significant clinical impact, there are currently no approved antiviral
therapies for HAdV infections. Here, we provide an overview of the different targets
that could be considered for the design of specific drugs against HAdV, as well as
the available in vitro and in vivo tools for the screening and evaluation of candidate
molecules.

Canine distemper virus (CDV) infects a broad range of carnivores and causes a highly
contagious disease with severe immunosuppression. The disease severity markedly varies
in different species. To investigate the pathogenesis of CDV in raccoon dog (Nyctereutes
procyonoides), fox (Vulpes vulpes) and mink (Neovison vison) species, three groups
of CDV sero-negative animals were infected with CDV strain LN(10)1. This CDV strain
belongs to the Asia-1 genotype, which is epidemiologically predominant in carnivores
in China. CDV infection provoked marked differences in virulence in the three species
that were studied. Raccoon dogs developed fever, severe conjunctivitis, and pathological
lesions, with 100% (5/5) mortality and with high viral RNA loads in organs within
15days post infection (dpi). In infected foxes, the onset of the disease was delayed,
with 40% (2/5) mortality by 21dpi. Infected minks developed only mild clinical signs
and pathological lesions, and mortality was not observed. Raccoon dogs and foxes showed
more severe immune suppression (lymphopenia, decreased lymphocyte proliferation, viremia
and low-level virus neutralizing antibodies) than minks. We also observed a distinct
pattern of cytokine mRNA transcripts at different times after infection. Decreased
IFN-γ and IL-4 mRNA responses were evident in the animals with fatal disease, while
up-regulation of these cytokines was observed in the animals surviving the infection.
Increased TNF-α response was detected in animals with mild or severe clinical signs.
Based on the results, we could distinguish three different patterns of disease after
experimental CDV infection, e.g. a mild form in minks, a moderate form in foxes and
a severe disease in raccoon dogs. The observed differences in susceptibility to CDV
could be related to distinct host cytokine profiles. Comparative evaluation of CDV
pathogenesis in various animal species is pivotal to generate models suitable for
the evaluation of CDV-host interactions and of vaccine response.

Conjunctival amyloidosis is a very rare condition, generally unilateral, and presents
mostly as an isolated condition without systemic compromise. Our purpose is to present
a new case of systemic amyloidosis with a bilateral conjunctival involvement.A 66-years-old caucasian female complaining of conjunctival hemorrhage and chemosis in both eyes for the last five years had been discontinuously treated with topical antibiotics and corticosteroids without any evident improvement. She presented with a pink-yellow infiltration in the inferior conjunctiva of both eyes. Conjunctival biopsy under optical microscopy revealed amyloid deposit, confirmed by Congo red staining. Mucosal biopsy from esophagus and rectus confirmed amyloidosis by Congo red stain. Immunohistochemistry of bone marrow biopsy showed an increased number of plasma cells and an over-expression of light chain kappa subunit. She was treated with corticosteroids and lubrication with an improvement of symptoms. Ocular lesions remained stable after a follow-up of 3 years.Conjunctival amyloidosis is a rare entity that may be overlooked, and should be differentiated
from chronic conjunctivitis and conjunctival malignancies. Although it presents most
frequently as a local process, a systemic involvement should always be ruled out.

Turkey is one of the richest countries in terms of plant diversity, owing to its unique
geographical location with different climatic and geomorphological structures. For
this reason interest in ethnobotanical studies has been rising. The goal of this study
is to document traditional uses of medicinal plants and supply phytomedicines with
efficacy and safety for use in primary health care in Bozüyük in Bilecik district,
located in the nortwestern part of Anatolia in Turkey.The ethnomedicinal data was collected during 2009-2010 using semi-structured questionnaires,
personal interviews and group discussion with 60 informants (22 men and 38 women).
As a statistical method, informant consensus factors (FIC) and fidelity level (FL)
values were calculated to analyse the importance of ethnobotanical plant species.104 plant species belonging to 47 families were found in this study. Among them 59
species were wild and 45 species were cultivated plants. The most common wild species
belongs to Lamiaceae (15.3%), Apiaceae (6.8%), Fabaceae (5.1%), Asteraceae (5.1%),
Polygonaceae (5.1%) and the most common cultivated species belongs to Rosaceae (24.4%),
Apiaceae (11.1%), Fabaceae (11.1%), Brassicaceae (8.9%) and Poaceae (6.7%) families.
The most common preperation method is infusion with the rate of 45%. According to
use value (UV) the most important plant is Linum usitatissimum L. (0.86). The highest
Consensus Informants Factor (FIC) of the ailments are skeletomuscular and conjunctivitis
diseases with the same value of 0.80. The most frequent species is Mentha longifolia
(L.) Hudson which is used for diuretic ailments with the amount of 88.33% fidelity
level.This paper reserves valuable ethnobotanical information for research area. The importance
of traditional medicines and indigenous knowledge should be conserved and encouraged.
In addition to this further laboratory investigations should be conducted on plants
to produce pharmaceutical output.

Allergic disorders of the ocular surface are primarily characterized as IgE- and/or
T-lymphocyte-mediated disorders that affect the cornea, conjunctiva, and eyelid. Approximately
40% of individuals in the developed countries have allergic conjunctivitis, and as
such, it is the most common form of ocular allergy. Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis
is the most prevalent type of allergic conjunctivitis that impacts the quality of
life of patients. This article reviews the pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics,
clinical trials, clinical efficacy, and safety of alcaftadine. Histamine and the pathological
mechanism of ocular allergy will be briefly reviewed with the intent of providing
a background for the detailed discussion on the clinical utility of alcaftadine in
allergic conjunctivitis. The Medline PubMed, Elsevier Science Direct, and Google Scholar
databases were used to search for evidence-based literature on histamine and immunopathological
mechanism of allergic conjunctivitis, as well as on pharmacology, pharmacodynamics,
pharmacokinetics, clinical trials, and clinical efficacy of alcaftadine. The treatment
and management goals of allergic conjunctivitis are to prevent or minimize the inflammatory
cascade associated with allergic response in the early stages of the pathological
mechanism. It is of note that activation of histamine receptors on immune and nonimmune
cells are associated with allergen-induced inflammation of the conjunctiva and its
associated ocular allergic manifestations, including itching, edema, hyperemia, and
tearing. Alcaftadine is an efficacious multiple action antiallergic therapeutic agent
with inverse agonist activity on H1, H2, and H4 receptors, as well as anti-inflammatory
and mast cell stabilizing effects that could provide therapeutic benefits to patients
with allergic conjunctivitis.

A 1-month-old Domestic Shorthair kitten was submitted for autopsy, with a history
of upper respiratory tract infection and diarrhea. This was the third kitten from
the same litter that had died with similar clinical findings within a period of 1
month. Severe conjunctivitis, rhinitis, tracheitis, and bronchointerstitial pneumonia
were present, together with lymphohistiocytic colitis. Respiratory lesions were caused
by infection with Felid herpesvirus 1. Colonic lesions were associated with the presence
of long filamentous bacteria, identified as Clostridium piliforme, in the cytoplasm
of epithelial cells. Our report describes a case of concurrent C. piliforme infection
(Tyzzer's disease) and feline rhinotracheitis in a kitten.